early reminders, chased clear leaders, ridden after 3 out, went 3rd next, kept on same pace, no chance with front pair
tracked winner, lost place before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off next
tracked front pair, went 2nd approaching 3 out, ridden before next, outpaced between last 2, never able to get on terms with winner
always behind, lost touch 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, blundered 4th, soon lost place, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next
made all, ridden before 2 out, drew clear between last 2, stayed on well
held up behind, headway on outside 4 out, chased clear pair next until 2 out, never a threat, weakened before last
always behind, lost touch 4 out, tailed off when hit next, pulled up before 2 out
NonRunner
The front-running Beyondtemptation is always liable to pop up in one of these if she gets an easy lead. Sporting Press clearly didn’t give his true running when failing to land the odds at Hexham while Blottos is back on a fair mark, though didn’t show much back over hurdles at Wetherby. Snookered still has time on his side but DESERT ISLAND DUSK’s form in the autumn suggests he is the one to beat if wind surgery has had the desired effect, despite reservations that he may be best at Hexham.
Blottos (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Prominent, not fluent and reminders 3rd, soon led, headed before 3 out, lost place 2 out, 9th of 14, 29 1/4l behind Teescomponents Lad (11-3) at Wetherby 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Sporting Press (IRE) 8-11fav (11-0) Led to before last, soon ridden and weakened, 4th of 6, 29 1/4l behind Manamite (11-0) at Hexham 2m mdn (5) hvy in Dec.
Desert Island Dusk 9-1 (10-5) Chased leading pair, 2nd after 4 out, led and hung left before next, soon headed, chased winner until next, kept on same pace run-in, lost 2 places towards finish, 4th of 7, 4l behind Cornborough (11-1) at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Paris Protocol 20-1 (9-10) Towards rear, ridden 3f out, never on terms, 9th of 12, 13l behind Glan Y Gors (9-7) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Chosen Flame (IRE) 100-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, driven to chase leaders when blundered next, soon no impression, weakened before last, 5th of 9, 29 3/4l behind Arthur Mac (11-7) at Catterick 2m 3f mdn (4) gs in Dec.
Beyondtemptation 11-2 (11-1) Led, not fluent 1st, ridden and headed approaching last, weakened flat, 5th of 6, 9 1/4l behind Royal Reserve (11-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Big Chip And Pin 10-1 (11-3) Mid-division, lost place 3rd, well beaten from next, went modest 4th after 3 out, 4th of 8, 37l behind Jenkins (11-10) at Ffos Las 2m (4) gd in Apr.
Tunnel Creek 20-1 (11-12) Never nearer than mid-division, hit 5th and ridden, soon lost place, behind next, tailed off, 9th of 10, dist behind Urtheonethatiwant (10-7) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (5) gs in Jan.
Snookered (IRE) 22-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden after 2 out, never able to challenge, 13th of 20, 16 1/4l behind Red Hot Chilly (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
